Student Politics and Political movement:

The general definition of student politics can be referred as when the students are involved
political activities are known as student politics. Students are referred as one of the most
important element of the society who can take the nation towards development. Students
role has always been playing a vital role in building a prosperous nation whereas this picture
is totally different in a third world country, like Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, the more
challenging phase for students is in universities/ colleges where education which is highly
influenced by violent politics. In each so-called political party in Bangladesh, there exist
various student organizations which use the young minds to demonstrate muscle power that
goes against everything that an balanced society stands for (Mukta, 2009). The role of
students in establishing and maintaining democracy in Bangladesh has never received
careful scrutiny by any political party but has strongly been used to bring down the
government or to blame the opposition to harm governments reputation through violent
hartals (Sayeed, 2006). Our so called politicians give example of our rich history of 1952s
mother language, even 1971s great victory where students played a very vital role. The
political parties, devoid of sound theories and pragmatism of politics, deliberately nourish
and patronize unhealthy student politics only for their vested interest, setting aside the
greater interest of the nation (Mukta, 2009).

[Source: http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_23393.shtml]
This has been an acute picture amongst the political parties in our country putting an immense effect on the public
universities and the innocent death toll rising so far and this condition is deteriorating by the day. One of the major
political partys leaders ordered the Law and Order authorities to take stern action against the continuous violence in
the campus closure of Barisal Medical College for kidnapping of a student due to intra-party conflicts whereas a
student of Dhaka Medical College was also killed by his fellows of the same student front. The party leader also
declined to meet with the feuding student leaders of Dhaka University and withdrawn her name from the patrons of

the student organization due to such violences (Bdoza, 2009). On the other hand this is completely a different
picture in private universities. The number of private universities has increased throughout the years significantly.
One of the main reasons for this increasing number is due to the dreadful decade of violence and session jams has
made the private-sector universities emerged as a welcome option for many students and their parents. Due to the
increasing number of private-sector universities the private university act 1992 was introduced but there was no
mention of prohibiting student unions or student political parties within the private universities. The main student
politics has been in much of in public universities as these students do not count the private universities as legitimate
education system. Another reason has been the pressure from the private universities regarding annual exams, quiz,
assignments and presentations and for parents, who pay for their education, is largely due to the non-political
atmosphere they assured. And all these have certainly made the students be unaware of political issues. But apart
from all these there has been an emerging group which has made it marks mostly in private universities named
Hizb ut-Tahrir .This student organization does not reject the notion of party-based politics per se. It only shifts its
party-based attention away from the capture, or the rehabilitation of the modern state toward the construction of an
idealized, transnational, global khilafat. Islami Chhatra Shibir is mainly in the public sector and which is also a
student wing of National (Party-Based) Islamism (Jamaat-e-Islami) whereas in private universities it is just named
as Hizb ut-Tahrir (Nelso, 2009). In one of the articles Islams New Face written by Mahfuz Sadique (2006) ;
detailed information regarding the politics of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the private-sector universities of Bangladesh, he
mentioned that private-sector universities have emerged as a new front to win hearts and minds in the want of an
Islamic based state. In that article he also mentioned that the first Hizb ut-Tahrir circles in Bangladesh was formed
on the campus of one of Dhakas leading private-sector universities: North South University (NSU). Though this
circle had no physical infrastructure it began to propagate its views informally, and before long, it had affiliated
groups in other private universities. Mr sadique mentioned that dozens of members attended group sessions after
daily prayers where women joined too. The articles also stated that, Hizb ut-Tahrirs core membership was always
rather small; but, over time, the number of people grew rapidly. Their leaflets are minimal but attractive in design,
and many of them are in English, which conveniently attracted private-sector university students. One final-year
student at NSUs School of Business, described the approach taken by Hizb ut-Tahrir was nothing less than guerilla
marketing. Their members mingle within the general student body in the canteen, in the student lobby and even in
the study areas. They instigated conversations on issues, like the Iraq war or hartal he mentioned and eventually they
bring up their discussion. According to Mahfuz Sadique, most private-sector university authorities have been
reluctant on this issue mainly because religion is a sensitive issue and administrators simply decided to overlook it.
Another reason is that private universities already have a reputation for being too western and the administration
were scared that cracking down on Hizb ut-Tahrir will further strengthen this allegations as mentioned by a privatesector universities professor and Hizb ut-Tahrir will get an upper hand while full-filling their ideologies.
On the other hand a new type of student politics is being observed where teachers and students involves at some
unethical and unprofessional practices At North South University in some cases the faculties are seen favoring their
students who had previously done their courses or somehow related with the respected faculty members. Even there

had been rumors where the faculty members has been accused of being biased towards certain students and giving
them unfair grades. Politics has not only been confined among the teachers and students. It has moved from students
to students as well. Rumors have been that there is a strong politics amongst the clubs at North South University
where students are involved at unfair practices. So these unethical practices along with the various student
organizations has to be dealt effectively and efficiently otherwise in the long run this might harm universities
reputation.
Hypothesis: Any type of student politics and student movement should not be allowed as this will harm North South
Universities reputation.
1. Does student politics exists in North South University (NSU)?
Yes / No
Does student politics exists in North South University (NSU)

14%

Yes
No
86%

A majority of student believes that there exists some kind of politics in North South University.

2. What kind of politics do you see in your campus?

a. I dont see any politics

d. Internal politics amongst clubs

b. Internal politics among teachers VS

teachers or students VS students

e. Involvement in political party

c. Some kind of favoritism at the governing

body

f. Authority getting some sort of threat from

certain political party

What kind of politics do you see in your campus

a. I dont s ee any politics

b. Internal politics among teachers VS teachers or s tudents VS s tudents

2% 2%
c. S ome kind of favoritis m at the governing
20%body
d. Internal politics amongs t clubs

11%

65%

e. Involvement in political party

f. Authority getting s ome s ort of threat from certain political party

As per the survey it is strongly believe that the politics is strong amongst the clubs whereas there are some
influences being made by the authority and the politics where the students and teachers are being involved that has
been seen at a good percentage where only few feels that there is hardly any politics.

3. What is your opinion about the existence of student politics in the campus?

What is your opinion about the existence of student politics in the campus
a. It helps the students achieve their purpose more easily
b. It is there as it requires less work effort to achieve ones goal
10% so students should learn to how to
c. Politics is a common phenomenon everywhere
attain their goals through it
12%
d. Politics isnt bad; it is just a simple way to survive4%
e. Politics is a dishonest way of attaining a purpose
74%
f. Politics deprives deserving people's work efforts
g. Student politics should be discouraged

The existence of student politics in the campus is highly discouraged. On the other hand some students believe that
there goals can easily be achieved and there is existence. Some students feel that it helps them to achieve their their
purpose more easily.
4. Do you think that student politics can affect the reputation of university in the long run?
a. It will harm the image of our campus
b. It has saved some student right
c. Yes, it has started to show some bad effect

Do you think that student politics can affect the reputation of university in the long run
a. It will harm the image of our campus
14%
1%
b. It has saved some student right

85%to show some bad effect

c. Yes, it has started

Student politics does affect the universities reputation and it has already started as being stated by most of the
students whereas some students feel that it will only be confined to only harm our image.
5. Do you think through politics some issues of NSU can be solved?
a. It only needs right management; issues can be solved without politics
b.Yes, definitely
c. NSU doesnt need any solution to any issue, it is perfect the way it is
Do you think through politics some issues of NSU can be solved?
a. It only needs right management; issues can be solved
without politics
3% 8%
b.Yes, definitely

c. NSU doesnt need any solution to any issue, it is perfect the

89%
way it is

Maximum students feel that the issues can be solved without the need of politics & only a small portion states that
the current way is good enough to run the institution

6. Could u find any political party in our campus? If yes, which party?
Yes/No

Could u find any political party in our campus? If yes, which party?

26%
Yes

No

74%

A majority to students agreed that there is a existence of political party which stated to be as Hizb ut-Tahrir which
has an intention to establish Islamic Ideologies.

Recommendations:

Authority should take strict steps as to avoid any political movement and at the same time play a significant

role in reducing favoritism or biasness among the faculties and students.

Students should be made aware regarding the ongoing political activities inside the campus.

The authority should make sure that no political part has influence inside the university premises.

Mukta, K. M. (2009) Unhealthy student politics: Impediment to development,[Online],

Available:

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/04/08/63347.html [26 November 2012].

Sayeed, I. (2006) The Freedom Industry and Student Politics in Bangladesh,[Online],

Available:

http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_23393.shtml [1 December 2012].

Bdoza (2009) It is time to redefine student politics in Bangladesh, [Online], Available:

http://bdoza.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/students-politics-it-is-time-to-redefine-the-form/[ 21 November
2012].